JOSEPH ZERILLI, D.V.M. 

Florida

Dr. Joe Zerilli is a second generation thoroughbred horse racing enthusiast. His father operated Michigan’s Hazel Park where young Joe first discovered his passion for horses and horse racing.   

As a new graduate, Dr. Zerilli started practicing at Calder Race Course in Miami, Florida in 1984. He left private practice for regulatory medicine from 1991-1993 as the State Veterinarian for the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering in Florida, and as a result, regulated not only the horses at Calder, Hialeah, Gulfstream and Pompano Park but also the many racing dogs at Florida’s dog tracks. During this time Dr. Zerilli extended his practice to include other sport and pleasure horses and animals at a local Ft. Lauderdale circus. 

After 1993, Dr. Zerilli joined another local racetrack practice for over eight years before settling down with old friends at Teigland, Franklin and Brokken, DVMs in 2003 to help develop its Mid-Atlantic division. In 2004, he became a partner in the practice. 

Dr. Zerilli also holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Husbandry from Michigan State University where the focus was on horses and cattle. He is interested in overall wellness and believes in most modern modalities of treatment including acupuncture, chiropractic, massage and nutritional supplementation. He enjoys minor surgeries that can be performed at the barn like Llewellyn procedures, castrations, caslicks and laceration repair. He is vigilant with veterinary regulation and feels that horse health and fair play is paramount to successful racing in the future and that pragmatic, intelligent regulation must include the horsemen and women, veterinarians and industry specialists. 

Dr. Zerilli is a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association and the Florida Association of Equine Practitioners. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking for his wife of 30 years, Marcia, and their five children, boating, trail bike riding and fishing.